Tag

Album #5

A couple of good news items from the Tool camp today. Firstly news that drum tracking is complete on the new album, with a celebratory photo from Kevin Mills:

Here’s a photo taken by KEVIN MILLS (Evil Joe’s assistant) to celebrate the drum tracking being completed (other than a segue, I believe). Thanks to Justin for sending!

Other news in the last week is that the Newsletter Archive is back on Toolband. The most recent Newsletters are longer posts that Blair has made recently (such as his thoughts on the Music Clinics) but I’m hoping that from this point forward his regular style of newsletter will be back!

No April Fooling this year from me, as I haven’t been organised. Tool did have an April Fools of sort, but since it was studio footage it wasn’t quite as foolish as it could be. Here’s a link to the video on Dropbox (I’m sure someone will upload it to Youtube in due time). Unsure at this point whether or not they are videoing parts of the recording process (for possible release) or if that’s just part of the joke. Time will tell I guess!

We’ve had a number of updates via social media over the last few weeks, and I’ve thrown together a quick Imgur page which collects most of the studio photos I’ve come across. Feel free to suggest any that I’ve missed and I’ll add them in!

The most recent studio photos come from Al Jones, who some of you may recognise as Adam’s brother.

There was an Instagram post from Adam Jones recently which showed a picture of Danny Carey holding a melted drum head, presumably outside the studio while recording the new Tool record. Danny’s website now has an explanation for the fire:

Danny’s drum altar burst into flames the other night after he finished tracking one of the tunes for the new TOOL ALBUM. This occurred while he was listening to the playback and contemplating if this should be the KEEPER TRACK or if he should try one more take. After smelling acrid fumes coming from the adjoining room, he rushed to check it out and realized that his drum altar was ablaze. The small fire fire was quickly extinguished, but not before the Egyptian tutelary deity HORUS suffered minor damage. The falcon-headed one was carefully transported to the ER where it was administered doses of super glue and later released. Afterwards it was decided that the track in question would be a keeper. I’m also happy to report that Horus (with the good ear!) is now back on the altar where he continues to provide support as only he can.” (to quote Danny.)

In other recording news, there are unconfirmed reports that they have changed studio, due to some technical problems with recordings. Unsure if this set back the recordings in any way, but it certainly appears the band is moving forward regardless.

Confirmed on Toolband over the weekend is further details of Tool‘s visit to the studio:

Who’s ready for some major breaking news? Brace yourself; get ready… okay, here we go. We are very excited to announce what is sure to be welcome news for both fans of TOOL and prog-metal enthusiasts in general. After all the years of writing and arranging (and re-arranging) at the band’s loft, I can at this time officially report that the guys have moved into a major studio where the recording process for the next album is about to begin in earnest. For the past few days the band members have been getting sonically adjusted to their new surroundings – dialing in the equipment settings and restaurant catering choices – in preparation for Danny to begin his tracking any time now – perhaps by the time that you read this!

I am also excited to announce that ‘evil’ JOE BARRESI will once again have his capable fingers at the engineering controls for what will certainly be another masterful TOOL offering by the talented team. Pinch yourself if you want, but I have been told that all systems are GO at this point for the upcoming sessions.

I will be posting periodic bits and pieces on the progress of the tracking once the guys get deeper into the recording process, and hope that all of you will keep checking back to the official website for these updates. In the meantime, be sure to also visit the individual band members’ sites and socials (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) for more inside glimpses as TOOL prepares for the next stage in their musical odyssey.

Just in case anyone still had doubts the new album is coming, I think it’s time to put those to bed.

Looks like Tool have hit the studio, with Adam sharing a post via Instagram. Interesting to note that Billy Howerdel is in London doing A Perfect Circle media work at the moment, and Instagram suggests that Maynard is also in Europe.

Adam suggested earlier that Maynard will join the for 3 weeks in March, I assume those three weeks will be towards the end of the month.

Another visitor from the Loft today, this time British rapper Heitham Al-Sayed from the band Senser, who claims that this is the last rehearsal prior to recording. All signs seem to be pointing to Tool reaching conclusion on their next album.

Not to be outdone by Maynard, Adam posted on Instagram today following a visit to the Loft by Sebastian Bach (formerly of Skid Row) and King Buzzo. In his post he suggests that Tool could kick off recording in March. It’ll be a tight schedule though, with both Tool and A Perfect Circle having tour dates in April/May this year.

Update: Adam has updating the Instagram post to suggest March instead of April as kicking off recording.

So maybe I spoke a little too soon when I ruled out 2018 for a new Tool album. I’m still on the skeptical I’ll believe it when I see it side of the fence, but good to see some solid progress reports from the guys.

Maynard has given us a refreshing clear answer as to the status of the new Tool album on Twitter this morning, and while it sound like progress is positive, I think we can safely rule out a release in the near future, and probably not until next year:

Started getting music files from the boys w the word FINAL in the title a few months ago after 11 years of begging. That in theory means the tracks wont change out from under me while I’m trying to write stories and melodies to them. In theory. Still waiting for the FINAL on 1,

So it sounds like the album is getting close to done from a songwriting perspective, but still not recorded at all. Given that A Perfect Circle are about to embark on some more touring in support of Eat The Elephant, I think it’s a safe assumption that we won’t see Tool recording until late 2018, which means promises of a release this year probably aren’t going to come to bear.